Vivian Elise Young Wiley

Our beautiful, loving, caring, talented wife and mother, Vivian Elise Young Wiley, entered her eternal rest with her loving Savior, Jesus Christ on June 17, 2025. Those of us who knew and loved her know she was a force on this earth. In high school she played basketball and was a member of several clubs. In college, she was President of the Clemson Women’s Glee Club. She graduated from Clemson in 1970 with a degree in Psychology with a minor in English.

A longtime member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Chester, SC, she held several positions on the Administrative Board, including being the first female Church Lay Leader and Chairperson of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee, and also served as President of the United Methodist Women. Vivian helped start the Future Christian Leaders Sunday School Class and taught that class for many years, imparting her vast knowledge of the Scriptures. She and her husband served as leaders of the United Methodist Youth Fellowship. She was also a longtime member of the Chancel Choir, using her beautiful voice to bless the congregation. In the community, she was a member of the Chester Civitan Club.

In her professional career, Vivian taught in both the Union (SC) and Sumter County public schools. While living in Raleigh, NC, she served as Benefits Processor in the HR Department of Cameron Brown Mortgage Bankers. Following her husband, Bill, to Camden, SC, she worked as a Case Worker at DSS. Following the birth of her first child, she became a full-time mother for a few years. After her second child was born and the family moved to Chester, SC, she worked part-time with the Adult Literacy Program while her daughters grew to school age. As the position became permanent, she eventually became Adult Literacy Director for Chester County. Vivian changed jobs in 1989 to become a counselor for the Hazel Pittman Center (for substance abuse). She later became Director of the Center and retired in 2004.

Vivian always loved sports, from basketball in high school to tennis, softball and volleyball in community and church leagues, where she was a fierce competitor. She also loved watching sports on TV, especially her beloved Clemson Tigers and Atlanta Braves. It was not a good thing to get between her and the TV during football, basketball and baseball seasons.

An artist at heart, she learned to paint in the late 1980s. Always blessed with beautiful penmanship, she taught herself calligraphy and started her own business, Beautiful Writing, creating art using words, including her own poetry.

An angel walking on earth, Vivian will be sorely missed, but her family knows she is singing in God’s Heavenly Choir. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Bill Wiley; two daughters, Heather (Wiley) Privette and Faith Wiley; two grandchildren, Hayden and John Privette; her faithful canine companion Beau, and numerous other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Daisy M. Young; father, Thomas B. Young; and sister, Beverly Lanham.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Sam Stone, Agape Care South Carolina and the MUSC Chester Nursing Center as well as numerous friends who have lent their prayers and support during the last few difficult months.

A visitation is scheduled for Friday, June 20 from 6-8pm at Barron Funeral Home in Chester, SC. The memorial service will be held Saturday, June 21 at 1pm at Bethel United Methodist Church in Chester, SC.

Memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 101 York Street, Chester, SC, 29706, or the Civitan International Research Center, c/o Civitan International, P.O. Box 382857 Birmingham, AL 35238.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.barronfuneralhome.com